Paper Prototyping

From MCTCWiki

Contents 1 Topic Assignments 1.1 Learn about Game Paper Prototyping 1.2 Creating a Paper Prototype for your Game Idea 1.3 Update the Wiki 1.4 Update the Blog 2 Related Links and Tutorials 3 Search the Web for more information 4 Students Contributions

Topic Summary: In this topic you will learn how to create a paper prototype for your game, and use it for 'play testing' your game functionality before you start to code in Flash.

Topic Assignments

Learn about Game Paper Prototyping

"Paper prototyping is a widely used method in the user-centered design process, a process that helps developers to create software that meets the user's expectations and needs— in this case, especially for designing and testing user interfaces. It involves creating rough, hand-sketched, drawings of an interface to use as prototypes, or models, of a design." Read more on Wikipedia.

Watch the following example of a game paper prototype:

Read the Tips and Tricks from the Trenches of Paper Prototyping

Watch the Paper Prototype from a Globaloria team called "The Fourth Column".

Creating a Paper Prototype for your Game Idea

1. Draw a paper prototype for your game idea.

• Draw the title/opening scene of your game.
• Draw each of the scenes of your game.
• Use boxes and simple shapes to represent elements of the screen.
• Make sure you can place all the game objects and interface elements on the screen.
• Use cutouts to represent buttons, changing text and moving objects.
• Focus on functionality, not graphic design (that will come later.)

2. Playtest your prototype with your team members. Refine your screens based on what works and does not work. Then exchange paper prototypes with another team, and playtest each other's work. Share your feedback.

Update the Wiki

• Videotape your paper prototype and upload it to a free video sharing site, such as Viddler.com.
• Add your Viddler clip to your Team page (or to your "My Projects" page if you are working alone.)
• Add written notes about your prototype under the video.
• Watch another team's paper prototype video, and leave feedback on their Team page.

Update the Blog

Suggested Post Ideas

• Write a Blog post about learning this topic.
• What do you like about paper prototyping? What don't you like? Why?

Comment on one of your classmate's blogs!

Related Links and Tutorials

Here are optional tutorials and activities you can do to learn more Paper Prototyping:

• The Paper Chase: Saving Money via Paper Prototyping Game Ideas
• The Interaction-Design.org Encyclopedia entry on Mock-ups

Search the Web for more information

Here are some search results on Paper Prototyping:

• Google results for "game paper prototyping".
• TeacherTube results for "paper prototype"
• Ask.com results for "game paper prototyping".

Students Contributions